I’ve sat down and tried to draft out a blog post so many times and haven’t been able to think of what to say.  2019 was hectic and complicated due to illness, a busy time at work, trying to finish off a house extension and all sorts of other things.  I still managed to get two books out A Runaway Bride for the Highlander and A Midsummer Knight’s Kiss (and even more incredibly managed to write one and a half more).

The upshot is that I’ve been very quiet here for a long time.  I loved joining in Medieval Monday but moving into the Tudor period meant I wasn’t as relevant to that.

2020 looks set to be interesting.

Uncovering the Merchant’s Secret is out next week.  It’s my ninth book which feels unreal. If someone had told me in 2010 I’d have published one book, let alone nine I’d have laughed.

My tenth manuscript is almost good to go and is yet another change of direction because it is Victorian.

I’ve signed a two book contract with One more Chapter books which I’m incredibly excited about (and a little nervous at the change of direction).

I’ve also joined a gym (five visits so far- go me).

I want to reengage with this blog as I don’t use it enough. I might even try revamp the style if I can work out how.  Watch this space.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the excerpts I’ve shared over the past weeks and have found some new authors and books.  I’m finishing off with my excerpt from Beguiled by the Forbidden Knight.

He’s her enemy…

…and she must not fall for him!

When her mistress is claimed as an enemy knight’s betrothed, handmaiden Aelfhild knows it would be too dangerous for her lady; she must go in her place. But there’s more to the scarred knight than she first thought—she isn’t expecting to fall for him! As the line between friend and enemy blurs, Aelfhild realizes she might be protecting her mistress, but not her heart…

Presumably satisfied that he was what he claimed to be, the girl had recovered enough to glare at him.

‘You were spying on me!’

‘I was here first!’ Gui exclaimed, stung by the accusation.

‘You were watching me at any rate. How long were you there?’

Gui heaved an exasperated sigh. ‘I don’t know. I was enjoying the peace before you came upon me. I was trying to get back to the bank without you spotting me. That’s my horse you saw.’

It was at this point Gui became aware that during their underwater tussle they had inadvertently swapped positions. Now the girl was between him and his belongings, and he stood in the middle of the river, preventing her reaching hers. At some point while they had wrestled beneath the water she had dropped her fishing hook. Gui could see it glinting on the riverbed halfway between them.

‘I’m not going to hurt you,’ Gui assured her.

‘You tried to drown me!’

‘No, I didn’t!’ This was becoming tiresome. ‘I slipped and you were the nearest thing to take hold of. If you hadn’t screamed, I wouldn’t have had to come near you at all, but you were making enough noise to wake a dozen korrigans.’

Her forehead wrinkled.

‘Water creatures,’ Gui clarified. His forearm stung where she had razed him with the pin. He wiped away the blood she had drawn. Her eyes followed his movement and a hint of triumph filled them.

‘The only one who has caused injury so far is you. Are you sure you aren’t a korrigansent to tempt me to my watery death?’ he teased. It struck him that if he was to drown, doing it in the arms of a creature as alluring as this one would not be the worst end he could imagine.

I’m offering one reader chance to win an ebook copy of my brand new Scottish romance, A Runaway Bride for the Highlander which comes out in May.   To be in with a chance all you have to do is leave a comment on each excerpt.

You can find Beguiled by the Forbidden Knight here

Amazon getbook.at/ForbiddenKnight

Barnes & Noblehttps://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beguiled-by-the-forbidden-knight-elisabeth-hobbes/1127581333?ean=9781488086755

Harlequin https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781488086755_beguiled-by-the-forbidden-knight.html

Kobo https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/beguiled-by-the-forbidden-knight-mills-boon-historical

Welcome to the penultimate excerpt I’ll be sharing in the Medieval Monday First Encounters round.  I’m delighted to welcome Lane McFarland to the blog with an excerpt from To Support A King ~ The Turnberry Legacy Series ~ Book II

Plagued by atrocities he committed against innocent victims while pursuing his father’s killers, Laird Mangus MacAndrew pledged to defend and provide for his clan. But his leadership is tested when two of his ships are attacked and his crews massacred. Desperate to fulfill his obligation to protect the clan, Mangus agrees to help reinstate The Turnberry Bond. His mission—garner support for the Bruce and avenge the deaths of his men.

The MacAndrew clan provides Catriona Butler something her Irish home could not, a safe haven. But when she receives a missive her brother is imprisoned and will be executed unless acceptable éraic can be obtained, she must return to her homeland. Mangus agrees to take Catriona to Ireland and vows she will not become a distraction, but he longs to be near her. Catriona witnesses Mangus’s fierce anger and grows distrustful. After a life of suffering her father’s vicious temper, she is skeptical of anyone with a penchant for violence. She attempts to keep her distance, but her traitorous heart pulls her in Mangus’s direction.

With the fate of the kingdom on his shoulders, will Mangus reunite the men of The Turnberry Bond? Can he pursue vengeance against his enemies without taking more innocent lives? And can Catriona free her brother and grow to trust Mangus, staying true to her heart?  

He held her glower for a moment then continued uphill. As she followed him along the steep path, her thoughts returned to Kinnon. Where was he held? What happened to him? Had he taken part in the crimes Da committed? She shook her head. No, she refused to believe it of him. Kinnon would never do such a thing.

Would he?

Images of him injured and imprisoned in a frightful dungeon ran through her mind. She had to get to Ireland.

Buy Link: Amazon

Follow along next week on Lane’s blog at http://lanemcfarland.com/blog, and  leave a comment for a chance to win an ebook of To Support A King.

Remember to check Lane’s blog today for my excerpt from Beguiled by the Forbidden Knight and leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of A Runaway Bride for the Highlander.

To tie in with the Lochmore Legacy series, Harlequin asked me to write a short story to be shared exclusively on their blog.  The first chapter is available today. There are twenty   chapters altogether and the blog will be updated daily so keep checking back.

As the future Laird of Lochmore, Hamish Lochmore needs a wife. So he enters a competition to win the hand of a woman he doesn’t know, let alone love. Hamish is determined to win, especially if he can defeat his arch enemy, Malcolm McCrieff. Until he encounters Annis Gowen, on a mission of her own. Dressed as a boy, Annis hopes to wreak revenge on Malcolm for betraying her, and only Hamish can protect her from Malcolm’s rage. Soon Hamish is in love and marriage to a stranger is losing its appeal. Maybe, he can find a wife by other means…

Copyright © 2019 by Elisabeth Hobbes

Start reading here

To Win His Highland Wife

You’ll need to register but it only takes a moment (and they won’t spam you).

You can preorder my book A Runaway Bride for the Highlander here getbook.at/ARunawayBride

Welcome to another Medieval Monday.  Today I’m excited to be sharing the first encounter from The Pirate’s Jewel by Ruth A. Casie

He had walked away from women before, but never with remorse, never with his heart broken.

Wesley Reynolds will do anything to avenge his family’s banishment from Dundhragon Castle even throw in with the notorious pirate, MacAlpin. His plan, ruin Lord Ewan’s trading network. He has a more devious plan for his father’s ‘best friend,’ the man who abandoned them at the eleventh hour. He’ll ruin the man’s most precious jewel, his daughter Darla. Wesley’s so close to ruining the trade network and succeeding he can almost taste it, but revenge is not nearly as sweet as Darla’s kisses.

Darla Maxwell, beloved by her parents has no prospects of marriage. Her father and Lord Ewan search to find her the right husband. Darla’s special gifts are frightening to many. She has visions that often come true. The murky image of a man haunts her, she’s sure it’s Lord Ewan’s soon-to-be son-in-law, but the vision morphs when she meets Wesley. The meaning couldn’t be any clearer to her, her destiny lies with Wesley.

When revelations surface indicating Wesley has been deceived and his revenge misplaced. Will he find the truth of what really happened to his family in time to stop the pirates? Will Darla ever forgive him? Will he ever forgive himself?

“My apologies.” She craned her head for a view of the gangplank. “You appeared to have the features…in the shadows…I thought you were Lady Maria’s fiancé.”

“Oh, you’re meeting her fiancé—”

“No, no, no,” she said growing more agitated by the minute. She snapped her head around as the sound of the horse’s hooves and the wagon on the cobblestones leaving the dock reached her ears. She gasped and shuffled back a step stumbling on the edge of the dock.

The excerpt continues! Next week : Bambi Lynn

You can catch last week’s excerpt here: Jenna Jaxon

Don’t forget, commenters each week will be entered into a drawing for a free digital copy of THE MAXWELL GHOST.

Remember to check out Ruth’s blog for my excerpt today.

Buy your copy of The Pirate’s Jewel here Amazon

Welcome back! Today I’m delighted to be sharing an excerpt from Sherry Ewing and her wonderful If My Heart Could See You.

She closed her eyes, and he felt the heat of their body’s as he moved her closer ’til they were but a heartbeat away. “Carpe Diem,” she spoke tenderly, as if she were savoring this moment, however brief it may be. She opened her eyes, noticing his further bewilderment at her words. “’Tis Latin… it means to seize the day.”

“Aye, I know its meaning. I am just surprised you do, as well.”

“My lord?” she questioned breathlessly.

Dristan continued to view the beauty of the woman, who watched him just as intently, almost as if she knew him. He cleared his musings inside his head and smiled once more at the fair maiden afore him. “You dress with clan MacLaren’s colors and that of a peasant, yet your speech is of a lady,” he answered. The mystery intensified as he felt the slight calluses in the palm of her hand he yet held, giving evidence she was used to hard labor.

Be sure to leave a comment here to be in the running for Sherry’s giveaway – an eCopy of If My Heart Could See You. A winner will be randomly selected and announced on Medieval Monday, May 6th.

Catch last week’s excerpt here: https://jennajaxon.wordpress.com

Follow Sherry to next week’s blog (April 15th) here: https://bambilynnblog.wordpress.org

Remember to check out Sherry’s blog  for my excerpt and remember to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of A Runaway Bride for the Highlander.

If My Heart Could See You 

When you’re enemies, does love have a fighting chance?

For Amiria of Berwyck, defeat does not come easily as she watches her home and clan being ripped asunder. When the very enemy who has laid siege to her home demands her fealty, she will do whatever it takes to protect her people including a hastily concocted ruse that quickly begins to unravel. All too soon, she starts to question whether she can forgive herself for betraying those she has sworn to protect.

Dristan of Blackmore, champion knight of King Henry II, has a reputation to uphold as the Devil’s Dragon. After his invading army conquers Berwyck castle, he sets out to manage the newly claimed estate by training its knights in the art of proper defense. At first, everything appears as it should be, or is it? Betrayed by those he believed he could trust, he must first set aside his anger before he can make room in his heart for love.

Together they are tied by an unspoken bond. As they begin to rebuild the land and unite their people, forces beyond their control attempt to tear apart their fragile truce and only time will tell if love will forever bring them together.

Buy Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1LV1qnk

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2pNkekK

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1D5NSBw

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1HQzhwH

I’m delighted to welcome Bambi Lynn back to the blog with an excerpt from The Vikings

He smirked at Wulf, a silent promise that he was now indebted to him. No doubt, Wulf did not need reminding. “Well, do not just stand there,” Bron said. He reached out and, taking her by the arm, pulled her across the threshold.

For more information on Bambi and her books, click here.

Five fierce invaders. Five innocent maids. One land to conquer.

THE VIKINGS OF NORMANDY

When the Viking leader, Rollo, sets his sights on conquering Paris, he sends a band of his fiercest warriors to capture a stronghold to shelter the invaders through the winter. Collect all five episodes in one volume.

GUNNAR

Gunnar Sigurdsen finds an unguarded stronghold at the mouth of the Seine River is the perfect target. Oliana du Fossé waits helplessly for her brute of a husband to claim her.

WULF

Wulf contemplates his share of the spoils after capturing a stronghold in Francia, fat with treasure and slaves. Farin longs to escape her fate as bed slave to the most savage barbarian of them all.

BRON

Brondulf Adilson has struck terror into his enemies for as long as he can remember, as well as the women who share his bed. Now he finds himself saddled with a beauty who may just steal his heart.

THORLEIF

Thorleif Rolvsson has been captured by the enemy. The Queen of the Franks has needs. Will a single night of passion change his fate? Or will he dine with his sons in Valhalla?

MAGNUS

Magnus hasn’t the time or motivation to take a wife. Especially not one who will most likely try to slit his throat while he sleeps.

BUY LINK: Amazon

Don’t forget to check in on Gui on Bambi’s blog today www.bambilynnblog.wordpress.com

Remember to leave a comment there for a change to win a copy of A Runaway Bride for the Highlander